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Model Railroad Layout: New addition to tourist attractions

Mysore, February 17 2012, DHNS:

People can buy a platform ticket and view the miniature models

The city railway station here is now home to a ‘Model Railroad Layout’, which is the first of its kind in the country.

MP Adagur H Vishwanath threw the doors of the model railroad layout, which was created by the Mysore Division of the South Western Railway, open to the public here on Friday.

The scale models include six miniature trains - two of which are hauled by vintage steam locomotives - running through tunnels and up the hill with six coaches in each train.

It also has models of Chamundi Hill, K R Circle, KRS Dam, Clock Tower, Philomena’s church and Zoo. The 200 square feet model is housed at the existing Heritage Gallery on Platform One at the Mysore Railway Station.

The layout is lit with 500 LED bulbs and will be in operation with day and night effect.

Beacon of hope

For people of the region, who have been hoping that the Mysore-Bangalore double track and a railway line to Kodagu will come true, the ‘Model Railroad Layout’ could be a beacon of hope. The model has a double track between Mysore and Bangalore and includes the Srirangapatna station. The Madikeri station and railway line passing Kushalanagar has also taken shape on the model.

Speaking on the occasion, senior commercial manager, Mysore division, South Western Railway, Dr Anup Dayanand Sadhu said that the concept was initialised about two years back. Sadhu said that he had come across a similar model at the Science and Technology Museum at Chicago, USA, which had about 160 miniature trains.

Similary, Hamburg in Germany has one of the biggest railroad model layouts, he added. Divisional railway manager, Vinod Kumar, said the Mysore division was aiming to provide better facilities to passengers. He said the division was aiming to bag the most tourist friendly station award this year.

MP Vishwanath urged the railway authorities to convene a meeting with passengers and elected representatives to understand the problems faced by the people.He said, that it would them serve the passengers better.

Promise!

MP Adagur H Vishwanath said that work on the Mysore-Bangalore double track is expected to be completed by the end of 2013. He said a team has already visited to inspect the Tippu’s Armoury at Srirangapatna. Priority is to shift the armoury and complete the work at the earliest, he added.